Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

My kids are 7 1/2 and 5 1/2. They attend the same camp. Yesterday they came home and told me that during free swim my seven year old who can swim took my five year old who cannot swim into the six foot deep, deep end of the pool without any counselors. I called the camp this morning and the first woman agreed with me at this was a huge issue and would have the camp unit head call me.

So I just got off the phone with the unit head and he failed in my opinion. He said he spoke with the counselors who said my daughter did not want to go into the pool because she wanted to wait for her brother. That they were playing with other kids in the pool and did not see him take her into the deep end. Then the unit head said she wanted to go into the smaller pool, but there was no one to take her so she a five year old should walk by herself to the other pool. wtf. I am really livid. What should I do?

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

What is a camp unit head? Is that like a camp counselor? I would call back and speak to the owner/director/manager... children left unattended at the pool is unacceptable and by sending a child unsupervised to walk to another pool is IMO negligent. Raise hell!

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

What would I do? I would seriously think about pulling her out of that camp. That is just NOT acceptable.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

I would be seriously concerned about the lack of supervision at the pool. I was a camp counselor for years as a teenager. The kids all went together to the pool, all stayed in the designated area based on their skills and all left together. Counselors were also assigned to stand at the edge of the pool, one every 3-5 feet apart, to supervise in addition to the lifeguards.

That is completely unacceptable and I would consider pulling them from camp. At the very least, I'd have a conversation with the owner/director about how dissatisfied you were with the unit head's response.

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

ok... so I'm usually laid back and don't like confrontation... BUT this would pretty much be a deal breaker for me.
they didn't see him take her into the deep end because they were too busy playing with other kids in the pool??!?! i feel like the counslors shouldn't even be in the pool with the kids!!! like somebody else said, they should be spaced out around the edge of the pool to help the lifeguard if needed.
and why would they even suggest that a 5 year old could walk to the other pool by herself?? even if it IS shallow!!!!
BUT then again i'm a little sensitive to this kind of stuff. when i was 14, my neighbors lost their 14 month old baby in a drowing accident- DURING A PARTY!!! so there were a ton of people around- they just each thought somebody else was with the baby/watching her. so, the more eyes on kids around water, the better....
i would defiantly talk to the owner/director/whoever and really let them know that this is unacceptable! and that you'll post the name of the camp on LI Families if it doesn't get better! LOL

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

What is their ratio of adults to kids at the pool? Do they have a lifeguard? Do they wear bands to indicate their swim level? At our camp, the kids have to take a swim test. If they do not pass, they stay on teh shallow end and wear a life vest as well as a black wristband. Swimmers wear a yellow wristband.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

See this is why I cannot send my 5 year old to camp.
Shit like this.
I would be furious and I don't think I could leave my kids in that camp. I'd be a nervous wreck all day long.
That is so unacceptable. The what if's would kill me.

This is a pool we are talking about. Water. Drowning.


I would make a HUGE stink.

I'd probably demand my money back too.

My blood is actually boiling right now and it's not even me in the situation.
I would not be calm, I'd probably want to go beat the shit out of someone.

Message edited 7/8/2015 12:57:58 PM.

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Completely not acceptable. Where were the lifeguards? Another issue is that none of the counselors realized for an extrended period of time that your son was not with them. I would speak with the director of the camp one more time and if he/she does not take it seriously and take action (add supervision to the group) I would request that your children's payment be returned and remove them from camp!

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Thanks all. I spoke with multiple camp directors, the unit heads, and counselors. They admitted they failed and are taking it seriously. She is being moved to a different group. I just did not feel like I could trust her counselors. There are nine to ten kids per group. one head counselor, two junior counselors, and two Cits. So there are five people watching nine kids. They agreed to have someone specifically assigned to my daughter during swim time who would be with her at all times. There are also multiple life guards. They agreed that it was an enormous failure on their part. I am going to see how she feels today and ask her how it went and go from there.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Can I ask- would she wear or do they allow a puddle jumper?
To be honest, it's the ONLY way I feel safe with my 5 year old near water. (she doesn't swim )

Message edited 7/8/2015 4:08:34 PM.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

You handled it perfectly. I would be furious too.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

They are giving twice daily swim lessons and she has an instructor and a counselor with her who will be directly responsible for her in the pool. It is the counselor from last year who she had a very strong bond. The directors and the camp called me three times this afternoon to make sure everything is ok. My dd told me exactly what they had said they were going to do.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Sorry I meant your daughter. But I also question your son's counselors. If they saw your daughter there with your son, why didn't they say something or handle the situation.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

I got more of the story from them. They helped my son get my daughter out of the pool yesterday. They saw what was happening and tried to help her even though she is not in their group. My sons counselors did the right thing.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

How did your 5 yr old not drown if they were in 6 ft deep water & could not swim? Does the pool go up to 6 ft & start shallow?

DS (5) goes to camp & the pool is 2-3 ft deep. He can swim... But I don't feel comfortable with him in deeper water without me.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

I asked dh about this bc he was asst director of a summer camp for years. He said students that young wouldn't have free swim for one thing, any kids not going in the pool would be outside a gate, in the gate they would have to have a proper flotation device on if they can't swim, and they wear wrist bands indicating their ability level.
Aside from all that, I don't understand how 5 staff members couldn't keep track of 9 campers especially during a crucial time like free swim. Id also question why the life guards didn't notice and step in.

Message edited 7/9/2015 8:19:38 AM.

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

You handled it well.. very well actually! This is why I can't do camp.. I'd have a nervous breakdown, if there was a 6ft pool.

Camp issue - how would you want it handled?

Honestly? I would pull them out ASAP!

The thought of what could have happened to your child in a matter of a few seconds makes me sick. On top of that the guilt that your other child would feel if he thought it was his fault. OMG NO, NO, NO!!! I would be fuccking livid!!!!

Re: Camp issue - how would you want it handled?